Automatic rubbing and polishing machine



May 18, 1948. y Q M, HERZ 2,441,701-

AUTOMATIC RUBBING ANDl POLISHING MACHINE `Filed July 2, 1945 5 Sheets-Sheet l VMM Momegg AUTOMATIC RUBBING AND' P'QLISHING MACHINE Filed July 2, 1945 5 sneaks-sheet 2 Invcvnor CovndusMHerz May 18, 1948. v c.,M. HERZ 2,441,701

AUTOMATIC RUBBING AND POLIvSHING MACHINE v Filed July 2, 1945 5 sheets-sheet 5 MM M0147 l Mornagg May 18, 1948. c, M. HERZ 2,441,701'

" AUTOMATIC RUBBING AND I].:O.:IS'ING MACHINE l Filed July 2,- 1945 v5l sheets-snm 4 OOQOQOOOGOOGG lnuenfov May 18, 1948. c, M. HERZ 2,441,701`

AUTOMATIC RUBBING AND POLISHING MACHINE Filed July 2, 1945 5 SheeLs-Shee'l 5 Wnunror mm1.

MWL

Patented May 18, 1948 Cornelius M. Herz, Grand Rapids, Mich., assigner to Robert W. Irwin, Grand Rapids, Mich.

Application July 2, 1945, Serial No. 602,836

(Cl. Ill- 37) 14 Claims.

This invention relates to a machine for univ formly rubbing and finishing wood surfaces, for example the tops of many articles of furniture provided with horizontally exposed upper surfaces. With the machine which I have invented,

a much better .and more uniform accomplishment of the finishing steps is attained than heretofore and with a much greater rapidity.

The previous practice in finishing such surfaces, and particularly the process or stepknown as the rubbing in of fllleror other material used, has been to performvthe operation by hand or manually, .requiring at least some degree of skill on the part of the operator and, even so, an impossibility of securing 4uniformity over an entire i `operation furthermore is slow and, therefore, ex-

pensive.

It is a primary object and purpose of the present invention to accomplish the finishing of articles of furniture in a much `more expeditious and easy mannerand with'a substantial uniformity in the product obtained. An understanding of the invention, in a practical embodiment thereof, and of its operation may be had from the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which,

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a machine embodying the invention.

Figs. 2 .and 3 are end elevations at opposite ends of the machine.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary vertical section, in a plane transversely of the machine from front to rear, showing the movable mounting of the reciprocating rubbing block or shoe thereon.

Fig. v5 is a fragmentary endelevatiom'at the rsame end of the machine as" shown in Fig. 2,

showingan enlargement of the mechanism provided for changing the position of the rubbing block or shoe Vbetween successive reciprocations thereof.

Fig. 6`is`a view similar to Fig. 4, but on a reduced scale, and at the opposite side thereof, and

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary enlarged elevation showing the rubbing VblockI or shoeLthe overhead bar..

on which it is mounted 'for reciprocation and the mountingof the transversely moving carriage on Which the bar is carried.

Like reference characters refer to like parts in the several figures of the drawings. In the construction of the machine illustrated as one embodiment of the invention, a supporting frame is provided including four vertical corner posts. Two front posts I (Fig. 1) are spaced a distance from each other, and directly at the rear thereof and spaced therefrom, are two vertical rear posts 2. The upper ends of the posts I are connected by horizontal frame members 3, and the front and rear posts I and 2 by similar horizontal frame members 4 as shown in Figs. 2 and 3. At each end of the frame structure, horizontal frame members 5 extend between the front and rear posts I and 2 at ay relatively short distance above their lower ends. While the various posts and frame members are shown of tubular form, the particular shape and form thereof is not in any way essential and may be varied considerably in detail.

At one of .the ends of the machine, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3, a. bumper or .stop member 1 is secured to andv extends inwardly from one of the frame members 5, providing a stop against which a vertical side of a desk, bureau or other like structure, indicated'in dash lines at 6, may be placed within the machine. At the other end of the frame and secured to the opposite member 5, are two tubular supporting members 8, in which rods 9 are telescopically received extending inwardly (Fig.l 1), and'at their inner ends connected to a carrier. The carrier as shown (Figs. 1 and 2) has spaced vertical legs III with rollers at their rlower ends, connected at their upper ends by a horizontal cross bar II and between the lower ends by a cross bar I2. A horizontal cylinder I3 is carried by said carrier and the rods 9 (Fig. 1) and from its inner end a piston rod I4 projects, having a head I5 at its free end 'as shown. A manually operable control valve I6 is mounted at the upper side and toward the front end of bar II having two air hose connections I'I le-ading from its opposite sides to the opposite ends of the cylinder I3.

With this construction, it being understood that a line carrying compressed air to the valve I6 leads to one side of the valve housing between the conduits I'I, and that an exhaust opening is at the opposite side of the housing, compressed air may be selectively directed to either end of the cylinder I3 to move rod I4 and head I5 either in an outward or inward direction relative to the cylinder. kWhen an article of furniture, as at 6, the top of which is to'be processed is located with a side or end against the stop 1, the carrier II) is moved to a position spaced a short `distance from the opposite side or end thereof, the rods 9 being held by screws or other releasable holding I6 in the opposite direction releases the article 6` and rearwardly. The arm 43 carries a spring acfor removal, the clamping head l5 being moved` away, as is evident. f

On each of the posts i and 2 an adjustable shafts d and 4I extending between and mounted at their ends on the track bars I9. The ends of the chains are connected to the ends 34 of the carriage at their inner sides at 42 (Fig. 6) so that on turning one of the shafts, for example the shaft 4E), the position of the carriage relative to the track bars I9 on which it is movably mounted his changed.

Trrneshaft vtu at the becket-the machine at one end has an arm 43 thereon extending upwardly #.tuated-fdogaor.zpawl M which normally is in engagement with the teeth of a ratchet wheel 45 sleeve xture i8 is slidably mounted, the ilxturer being in two parts for applicationptoeachpostin;`

a common and well known manner. int-theinner sides of the post and at each end-of thesframe,r

extending between the front and rear'postsZ and beyond both at the front and rear-of zthe frame a horizontal track bar I 9 is secured to said fixtures, .thereibeing two; of: the A,bars lazoneiadjacent each end ofthel frame.

:Horizontal bars (Figs.i1,and;2) ai'esecured above Vand extending .between `tne.:members 'r4 of the supportingframe. lBrackets-l.sareconnected withzthesbars fadiacentitheir ends,;and;between and through'bearings vat...the upper .endsiof said -brackets.ahorizontalshaft;22 extends. iThe shaftl .carr-ies spaced drums/'23 itozeachgof whichitwo -ca'bleslrM are. secured, aty onerendpf the` machine `:said cables =,extending, one rearwardly'gand-:the :other in :a :forward r direction to aandvgover Vidle grooved pulleys 2.5, .and thenceitowardr the ,track -bars 'I9 lhaving suitable adiustinggnconnections therewithY adjacent ithe. ends :of "saidrbars At one 1 end` ofthegshaft ,22 a.ilarger.;drumv 26 `is xedzfrom which a weight 21 is suspendedby.a;cable;2.8. The weightv in .rpart ,balances '.the'tweight of ,the track '-.bars l9,.;.the'xtures= Handfthe carriagezandother -parts of the-machine, hereafter-describedgiwhich are mountedff or .movement on saidtralckzbars.

At-the. end offthe shaft 22 oppositerthe'zdrum :525, :a .sprocket :wheel .129 `is fastened ('Eig.y2), around :which qpasses. ffThefchainffalsomasses.aroundfaasecond Sprocket .wheelf3lmountedfon fthegshaft of `a moan endless :sprocket chain 53.6

operating zthe. motor-the 1 guide fixtures f l 8,i track 'bars i9 V,andzthe `parts':carried therebymay be lifted 'to any :desired position. When -sucheposi- Ation isreached,'aaremovablefpin .liiirnayy be passed `'between two consecutive teeth:offthegwheel:'liinto :an opening .inrthe motor lhousing 32:- to maintain the-barsv i9 at.ardesired'preselected level. -Itis of rcourse apparent thatfrtheshaft :on ir/hcli` the sprocket wheel '3 l is connected: :may abeturned :in any desired vmannerias; for exam-ple, manually by a crank; the power1usedt0 elevate the 'track'rbars t9k being .any :whichLcan:betutilized *',The 4lowering .of Athe track bars :andethe #carriagesthereon .will

preferably be by gravity with the counterbalance .weight 21 insufficient to v.wholly overcome 'the weight of 4'the track bars and rpaittsfassocated therewith.

baria (Fig. .4):1and :by horizontal tubesi rex- :tending-'.betweenjthennds34. T 'Iiwofspaeed rollers F .atthe -zouter'side cfgeachziof :the :ends :Silrride i upontheupperaedgeof-eachbar liiadiacentfeach A,endl-34cantd a thirdpgrellera l against theglower -iedeezthereoff (Figs-@2.14am :7) Aisprockethain 3l-.extendsizbetweenndmasses:aroundtwspaced :sprocket .wheels :3.8 iand 39 @on -.horizontal :cross arc fixed to the shaft 4U. A second spring actuated 'retaining'fdogdkhas its free end in normal engagement with the ratchet wheel to hold it against 'j Aturning..inaire-verse direction. A solenoid 41 is carried on the adjacent end of the track I9, being *vertically positioned, and its armature is con- 53,.' preferably :an .:I'f:beam,nto ixtheizundercside -fof nected by a link 48 with an end of the arm 43.

l Whenlthesolenoidl: iseenergizedibythe passage .of electric'x; current zin.:o'nezdirectionthe.: armature .maybe-moved downwardly withza l resultantturn ing otshaft miga-.part vo'fafrevolution:and .whenthe .ing-.movementzgto.beimpartedeto thefshaft 40. In this manner the :carriage is :movedxonxthertracks i9 zin -shortfiperiodic stepszofamovement.

zfEromithextopsands tos.;one.side.:ofz..the,carriage described, Lspaced :arms '.49 zextend :upwardly ...',to whichzoneaend:ofzparallellink-bars 5.0: and=5 lf-:fare pivotallyrcennected- The upneri-1inits :501;have :a pivotal fconnection rat-f52a1-with' van-.;elongated rod 52y secured :at thesu'pper:sideroha:horizontalbeam y,which an; elongatedziplate .Skis-secured (Figs. .4 andl 17:) ,Themwen-l-inks l are pir/Totally 11. connectedtto thebeams53ibyrmeans5ofaears: securedfto :the beamiatilowerzpositionsihereon. .Aszmanyiof thenlinks n50, aszzmay be :necessarywaref'fextended as shown at 50a (Figs. 2 and 3) to the .opposite -side.,ofttdaerarms'Aifonfwhicinaremmuntedweights frat.ileast,rcounterbalanceiv the :Weightiofwthe beam V5.3 zand ftheI zparts. mounted'thereonras ,:later :1de-

scribed. @In .additiomfonf:themedSZsandJthemivot 4:upwardlyaeiitendingalegsfbetween'which thezplate 54- is located. s Overhanging-'retainerrbars 6 Ifsecuredito-the flippergendssof; saidilegs project over the edges of thel -bar 5.4 Athereby mountingfsaid fork lfori freefslidingsmovfement :lengthwise offithe Vplate. fAt `t-he-mnder side-of Vthefork 60 v4andex- .tendinganownward-,ly therefrom'zisvagyoke 1521er .U formfat-.the :lower-:side of iwhichfaflug ll 3f having 'fa rounded upper fendsisfseated in :a concave recess provided at 64, said leg 53 having a reduced .threadedepart atffits- .upper.-;end @passing rthrough the .bottom Vof fthe yokei'z and :receiving aanut. .The lug e3-ds the up-per side. ofsablock-ron shoe 1165: and :locatedgfsubs-tantiallysmidwayflcetween .its ends. -.Atthe Yundersideoi'-sai d. blocker-'shoe and ,-extendingaroundrlts-endsto the. uppersidethereof a fabric cover isesecured. v.Itis yapparent that by .reason-of the. mounting ..of.said.,b1ock or shoe as described.aitmayhaveaifipetilting movement fto contormftothe mnperisurfacetofftheftop of the furniture article over which-it is to be reciprocatingly moved. f

Two yokes 61 having spaced-arms are associated with the shoe 65, being pivotally connected thereto substantially midway between the ends of the shoe to turn about a horizontal axis and extending in opposite di-rections beyond the ends of the shoe (Fig. 7). Each carries a roller 68 which rides over the upper surface of the' top of the furniture article B until it passes beyond yan edge thereof. For example, in Fig. 7, the roller at the left has passed beyond the edge ofthe top 6 Vand has dropped to a lowered position, while rthe roller 68 at the right is maintained in an upper position by its contact with the top of the furniture article over which it moves. Each of the yokes 61 is provided with a switch actuating arm B9 extending upwardly and bent horizontally as shown for each to extend over a switch 10. When a roller 58 is at its upper position, as shown at the right in Fig. 7, the arm is out of engagement with the switch, but when the roller has dropped downwardly,.after passing from vthe top of the furniture article over which it has been moving, as atthe left in Fig. '7, the switch is operated and a circuit controlled thereby closed.

An angle bracket 1| (Figs. 1 and 7) is permanently secured to the sliding yoke, to which a piston rod 12 is fastened vat one end. The piston rod enters a cylinder 13 at its opposite end, which cylinder is mounted at the lower side of the beam y53 and moves therewith. Air carrying conduits 14 are connected in conjunction with opposite ends of the cylinder, and are also-connected to opposite sides of a valve housing 15 which hasva suitable rotatable v-alve therein, and to which compressed air is carried by the pipe 16, the side of the valve housing opposite pipe 16 having an exhaust opening in the usual manner. The valve is turned to different positions by an arm 11 secured thereto. A solenoid winding 18 is mounted on the frame and its armature is connected by a link 19 to the outer end of the arm 11..

It is to be understood that the switches at are alternately operated as the rubbing shoe moves back and forth across the furniture article 6, first one roller 68 and then the next dropping downwardly as they pass over and beyond the opposite edges of the top.- Such switches are connected with and control electric circuits to direct a current through the solenoid 18, the winding 'which is -connected with said circuits, tofalternately move the armature thereof in opposite directions. This causes a passage of compressed air alternately to the ends of cylinder 13, and an alternate exhaustion of air likewise so that the piston rod 12 is reciprocated, and the rubbing block 65 is moved back and forth over the surface of the top of the article 6. Irrespective of the distance across the top, or of varying distances which there may be, for example, in irregular shaped tops, the reversal of movement occurs wherever one of the rollers 68 has passed from the top of the furniture article 6 and dropped down to close its switch 10. Thus there is an automatically controlled back and forth movement of the pressure or rubbing shoe 65 over the top which is being treated.

The solenoid at 41 is similarly connected with the circuits used with the solenoid at 18, with any elevation of the arm 43 at the end of one reciprovcatory movement of shoe B5 and a pulling down of said arm at the end of the other movement a movement :of the carriage over the track bars times.

VI!! takes place so` that, at the end of each complete reciprocation, the position of the pressure and rubbing shoe relative to the top which is being treated is changed. It is, of course, apparent that by duplicating the mechanism, which includes the chain 31, ratchet wheel 45 and parts associated therewith, and mounting it at the opposite end of the shaft 40, such transverse change in position of the shoe to the top being processed may occur at the end of each reciprocatory movement.

In the operation, the pressure with which the shoe 65 with under cove-ring 66 bears against the upper surface of the article which is being processed, is controlled by the weight 59 being moved `along the rod 58 to any desired position. For any particular height of a line of desks, bureaus, buffets or thelike which may be processed, the track bars 9 are elevated and adjusted to the desired position with reference to the upper surface of the tops of such furniture articles. The carriage is moved along the tracks I9 so as to start the processing at a longitudina1 edge of the top and the mechanism started in motion by closing a switch controlling the circuits associated with the solenoids 41 and 18, Thereupon the rubbing shoe is moved back and forth over the upper surface of the top, bearing thereagainst with a pressure which is uniform at all The Iautomatic operation of the solenoid 41 feeds the carriage periodically between reciprocatory movements, laterally shifting the position of the rubbingshoe and such reciprocation of the shoe and periodic shifting of it to a new position Icontinues until theV opposite edge of the top is reached, whereupon the dropping of both rollers 68 with an actuation of both switches 10 simultaneously neutralizes the solenoids 41 and 18 and stops the machine in operation. weight '59 is then slid along the rod 58 to .overbalance the weight of the beam 53 and the parts carried, thereby lifting it and the rubbing shoe carried thereby above the top, the furniture article processed may be released by withdrawing the head I5, the article removed and replaced by another. By lifting the dog 46 the carriage and the parts carried thereby are returned to initial -position to repeat the operations for processing the top of the next succeeding furniture article. The structure described in practical use has proven very useful, economical and with it a much more rapid and a better nishing ofthe tops of articles of furniture or finishing of any wood surface which can be positioned and held in position horizontally is attained without tiring the operator. It is to be understood that the described structure is -of a machine, the rst one made, and that for productive manufacture of the machines in quantity for sale many changes in detail and design may be resorted to, but with an adherence to the principles of operation and structure to embody them, equivalent to the disclosure made. For example, fluid operation of the holding means for the furniture article, or for the reciprocation of therubbing and polishing shoe, may be readily replaced by another type of structure which does not depend on fluid oper.. ation but which will be equivalent thereto, with the invention not departed upon and with no departure from `the principles of operation outlined.

f The invention is defined in the appended claims and is to be considered comprehensive of all forms of structure coming within their scope.

I claim:

The.

Vf1. :.Alsupporting structure-within .which` an larticlefhaving `a horizontal upper-surface is adapted to vbevplaced, means for releasably. engaging iand holdingsaid article :in a'- nxed lposition, substantially horizontal tracks carriediby said supporting structure, a `carriage rnovaloly mountedv on said tracks, a beam Vlocated transverselyofsaidtracks, means movably connecting said beam to the 'carriage whereby-'the beam maybe raisedand lowered, va finishing member slidably mounted on said beam and adapted to engage against-the :upper surface Vof ysaid articlaand `means .ferire- 4ciprocating said member while in engagement against Vsaid surface.

.2mn construction as defined in claim 1, and

means traversing Asaid vsurface in synchronism with-said iinishing means for automatically controlling said reciprocating means for reversing it in operationwhen the finishing member alternately reaches the-edges of the horizontal surface over which vit is reciprocated.

3 A constructionv as defined in claim 1, means traversing Asaid surface in synohronism with said nishing 4means for automatically reversing the reciprocating movement of said rinishing member upon its reachingeitherof` the edges of thesurface over 'which it is moved, andadditional means for automatically moving Ysaid carriage on its tracks-a predetermined Ydistance between reciprocatory movements.

'4. A'construction as defined vin claim 1, means for 'adjustably mounting said tracks for simultaneous. and equal Vertical adjustment on said supportingstructure, means for counterbalancing the weight of said tracks and the carriage and l otherparts'thereon, and lmeans for releasably holding lsaid tracks against movement in any position -to which Y adjusted.

5. In combination, a supporting .structure within which an article of furniture having a horizontal-top is adaptedto be placed, means for releasably securing said furniture articlein a xedlposition relative to said support, vspaced horizontal tracks mounted on said support, a carriage. mounted on and extending between said tracks. and movable thereover, a beam movably connected to the .carriage whereby said `beam lmay be raised and lowered with respect thereto,

a `finishing shoe slidably mounted on and located belowsaid beam, means carried by said beamand connected with 'said shoe for moving the shoe .back and forth on the beam, and automatic con- .trol `means moving with said shoe and having parts extending opposite -each other and beyond opposite ends of the shoe, said partsbeing movi ablyimounted and held inan upper position when .riding over the upper surfacer of said furniture article topby engagement therewith and dropping-by gravity when moved beyond anfedge of the top, said means automatically controlling said shoe moving means to reverse the direction of movement of the shoe.

6. A construction having the elements defined in claim 5, said shoe moving means comprisinga horizontal cylinder 'located below one end portion .of-the fbeam .and secured thereto, a piston rod enteringsaid cylinder-at one end and connected with the shoe at'theother, a' piston in said cylinder-connected -to said piston rod, conduits for carrying: fluidapressuref-.to' each end .of said fcylinder, a valve to which said conduits lead, the turning of Ewhich directs fluid pressure into one'end .ofthe cylinder andvexhausts it from :the other connected with said valve to turn it in-'zopposite 18 .directions` upon the -shoe reaching .opposite edges of said furniture article topand said ,partsncar- .ried thereby-:dropping vby gravity.

7. .Asupporting structurewithin which .a'furfniture yarticle Yhaving a horizontal top may be received, means Vfor releasably clamping said furniture article in a xed :position relative to said supporting structure, a'ru-bbing shoe bearing against the top land-'mounted for reciprocation from one edge-.thereof to` the other, means for reciprocating the-shoe, and means .traversing said top for controlling the reciprocating means to-'reverse'its movement when the shoe reaches .either 'edge A of the top yover and against which it ismoving.

l8.1A"construction'as 'defined in Vclaim 7, and a `carriageforsupporting-said shoe carrying means, means -for mounting the carriage for movement in 'a direction transverse to the movement of saidshOe, and automatic'meansfor moving said carriage' a pre-selected distance between recipro- -cations of the .shoe to periodically change the position of the shoerelative to the top over and againstwhioh it is moved.

19. gMeans Ifor processing the upper surface lof ahorizontal top of a furniture article including, a carriage, means for movably mounting the carriage, a'bar movably mounted on said carriage for I.raisingand lowering, a processing member slidably mounted on said 1par, means for reciprocating said member on said bar, means for reversing-the direction of reciprocatory movevment of said-member upon it reaching the edges of said furniture article top, and means for moving saidcarriage to change the position of the processing member relative to the top.

v-10.In a construction 'as'described horizontal track supports, a carriage vthereon movable on said tracks, a bar extending transversely of the trackslfand movably mounted on the carriage for rraising and lowering thebar, a processing 'member v:slidably mounted fon said'bar, means for moving .said processing member back and forth on'the bar, means for automatically mov- 'ing the 'carriage periodically 'on said tracks in synchronized relation to the movements of the processingmernber.

11. -A construction as defined in 'claim 10, means to counter-balance the Weight of said bar, processing member and reciprocating means, andy an-adjusta'ble weight carried by said carriage and` connectedwith saidV bar, movement of which in one edirection elevates the barand attached .parts and in the other direc-tien lowers said bar and presses vtheprocessing member against the upper side of `work to be processed thereby.

l12..2ln `a vconstruction as described, spaced apart-elongated tracks, a carriage thereoniextending between the tracks, a `bar located to one side of the carriage,.means Amovably Iconnecting said bar -to the carriage -whereby the bar may be raised and lowered, a processing member slidably mounted on said bar, means'carriedby'said Abar .for moving said-processing member back and forth on the'bar, control means movably .mounted on Ysaid processing .member and eX- tending therefrom'beyondopposite ends thereof .to ride upon the upperisurface Iof articles being processed and dropped byfgravity on leaving such surface, and `means controlled thereby for reversing the processing member moving means upon downward movement of a control member.

:13. A supporting structure within which an article lhaving 'a yhorizontal upper surface ais :adapted .to-be placed,f.means for releasable .en-

gaging and holding said article in a fixed position, substantially horizontal tracks carried by said supporting structure, a carriage movably mounted on said tracks, a bar located above and transversely of said tracks, means movably connecting said bar to the carriage whereby it may be raised and lowered, a rubbing or nishing member slidably mounted on said bar and adapted to engage against the upper surface of said article, means for reciprocating said member while in engagement against said surface, means for automatically reversing said member upon its reaching either of the edges of the surface over which it is moved, additional means for automatically moving said carriage on its tracks a predetermined distance across said surface between reciprocatory movements, said means for reciprocating the' rubbing or nishing member being rendered inoperative and stopped from movement when said carriage has been 20 moved a sulcent distance that said rubbing or finishing member is moved out of engagement with the upper surface of said article.

14. Means for processing the horizontal top of an article of furniture comprising, a movably 25 2,314,697

mounted l carriage, supporting means for said carriage, a processing member to move back and forth over and against the furniture article top mounted for slidable movement and carried by said carriage, means for reciprocating said meme. ber, means for moving the carriage a predetermined distance at periodic intervals and between reciprocatory movements of said processing member, and means for automatically rendering the means for reciprocating said member inoperative when said carriage has been moved a distance sufiicient to carry the processing member beyond the top of said furniture article.

CORNELIUS M. HERZ.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the iile of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 376,198 Hussey Jan. 10, 1888 1,873,818 Burns Aug. 23, 1932 2,239,409 Woodruff et al Apr. 22, 1941 Golf Mar, 23, 1943 

